My record collection sits on the shelf opposite my bed.

Or rather,

it doesn't

because those are C.D.s
which are a different thing altogether.

My friends think records
are outdated, old and unnecessary,
(but they don't know the thrill of

slowly sliding the sleeve away,

vinyl coming into view,
a wonderfully tactile
and altogether
nicer feeling
than pulling
a tape
from a
case.

Vinyl is large

By which I mean that
one can actually hold a record, and feel like they own
something.

I am not my collection.

But I do have some
(rather nice) Smiths 45s,

several transparent 7-inches

and I swear my Dad owns

EVERY

Beatles single.

I prefer 12" singles, although LPs are wonderful also.